292 A Walk from 



be very difficult to convey any idea of it by any 

 description of an unaided pen ; and there is nothing- 

 extant that would avail as an illustration. The church 

 is very old and large, and stands upon a commanding 

 eminence. The massive tower supports a tall but 

 suddenly tapering spire of the most puzzling con- 

 struction to the eye. It must have been designed 

 by a monk of the olden time, with a Chinese turn of 

 ingenuity. There is no order known to architecture to 

 furnish a term or likeness for it. A ridgy, spiral spire 

 are the three most descriptive words, but these are not 

 half enough for stating the shape, style and posture 

 of this strange steeple. It is difficult even to assist 

 the imagination to form an idea of it. I will essay 

 a few words in that direction. Suppose, then, a plain 

 spire, 100 feet high, in the form of an attenuated cone, 

 planted upon a heavy church tower. Now, in imagina- 

 tion, plough this cone all around into deep ridges 

 from top to bottom. Then mount to the top, and, 

 with a great iron wrench, give it an even twist clear 

 down to the base, so that each ridge shall wind entirely 

 around the spire between the bottom and the top. 

 Then, in giving it this screw-looking twist, bend over 

 the top, with a gentle incline all the way down, so 

 that it shall be " out of perpendicular " by about three 

 feet. Then come down and look at your work, and 



